Ground beef is a staple for making dishes such as meatloaf, burgers and lasagna and is often a budget-friendly protein when purchased in bulk. But how long can ground beef stay in the fridge? For more info, we consulted Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN award winning nutrition expert and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

How Long Will Ground Beef Last in the Refrigerator?

Fresh ground beef will last in the refrigerator for one to two days since the temperature is outside the USDA’s “Danger Zone” (40 to 140°F, the temperature at which bacteria can grow most rapidly – doubling in as little as 20 minutes).

Ground beef only lasts up to two days in the refrigerator because it contains specific characteristics that bacteria like to grow and thrive. “Ground beef provides a high protein that pathogenic bacteria love to grow, especially at temperatures between 40 to 140°F, but they can still grow (just slowed) at refrigerated temperatures. If given enough time, this will allow pathogenic bacteria to grow to high levels that can make people sick,” Amidor explains. “Ground beef also has the moisture levels and pH level that these pathogenic bacteria like. Although the temperature is around 38 degrees F, the bacteria can still grow but at a slower rate and the maximum time that is safe is up to 2 days.”

Whole cuts like roasts and steaks, by contrast, will generally last 3-5 days in the refrigerator if stored correctly.

How To Store Ground Beef

Amidor outlines several guidelines to follow when storing ground beef in the refrigerator.

• When shopping for beef, pick it up just before checking out so it stays cold as long as possible. If it takes longer than 30 minutes to get home, consider bringing a cooler in your car to keep the ground beef cold and refrigerate it as soon as possible after purchasing.
• Place packages with raw ground beef on the lowest shelf in your fridge on a plate or tray to catch any juices.
• Use refrigerated ground beef within 1 to 2 days of purchase.

How to Store Ground Beef in the Freezer

Ground beef can be stored in the freezer in its original packaging for up to two weeks. For longer-term storage, Amidor recommends wrapping the ground beef in heavy duty aluminum foil or placing it in a resealable plastic freezer-safe bag and removing as much air as possible. Amidor also recommends re-packaging ground beef into desired portion sizes to make it easier to thaw the quantities you need, ideally overnight in the refrigerator for 12 hours.

If you remove the meat from its original packaging before freezing, the USDA says that the “ground beef is safe indefinitely ... but will lose quality over time. It is best if used within 4 months. Mark your packages with the date they were placed in the freezer so you can keep track of storage times.”

How To Tell if Hamburger Meat Is Bad

Amidor recommends using your senses to assess color, texture and odor to determine if hamburger meat or ground beef has gone bad. "And as the saying goes, when in doubt, toss it out!" she says.

• Color: The color of ground beef should be nice and pink, but on occasion a little brown inside is alright. However, a funky gray color, green or any other off color is a sign that the beef is spoiled.
• Texture: When it comes to texture, ground beef should be slightly firm to the touch, but if it is slimy, sticky or wet, then those are indications of spoilage.
• Odor: Beef has a very mild odor, but if you have an overwhelming off-odor that smells like it is rancid, then do not eat it.

How Long Can Cooked Ground Beef Stay in the Fridge?

Cooked ground beef can stay in the fridge for three to four days or be stored in the freezer for two to three months as long as you follow the “Two-Hour Rule”. Simply put, cooked ground beef should go into the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking (or within 1 hour if the temperature in the room is above 90°F) since bacteria multiply fastest in that window. Be sure to store cooked ground beef in an air-tight container and label it with the date and contents.

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